Italian striker Balotelli leaves Liverpool for Nice

Paris, Sep 1 (IANS) Italian striker Mario Balotelli has completed a permanent move from English Premier League (EPL) side Liverpool to Nice, confirmed the French Ligue 1 football club.

“It is done. Balotelli is officially a player of Nice,” the club confirmed in a statement on Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

“Mario Balotelli will train with us on Thursday and be officially presented to the press on Friday,” it added.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mario. We hope that Nice, in a family atmosphere, he will find the pleasure of the game,” said Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere.

“We know, for him and us, that nothing will be easy but with the desire and, hopefully, the support of all our fans, we will allow him to flourish and bring his talent to the service of the team,” he added.

No financial details were disclosed by the French club, but according to British media, Barotelli had moved on a free transfer as Liverpool was trying to avoid paying off his contract.

Considered a troubled figure, the 26-year-old, who was signed by then-Liverpool manager Brenan Rodgers for 25 million euros ($28 million) in 2014, managed only four goals in 28 appearances for the Premier League side.